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The NSW Government has launched a free online legal service to help people overcome mortgage pressure and settle rates debts with local councils without the stress of court proceedings, Attorney General Mark Speakman announced today. The LawAccess NSW website now provides two interactive guided pathways to match people with the information they need to resolve…
Read More Free online pathways to solve legal problems
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Following the Review of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and the Productivity Commission Report into ACL Administration and Enforcement, Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) released a new tool to help consumers monitor the implementation of various recommendations. The tool, to be updated quarterly, will provide information as to progress. The January 2019 update is now available…
Read More January Update: ACL Review Implementation Tracking Calendar
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People will be hundreds of thousands of dollars worse off in retirement if the Federal Government doesn’t act now to stop the superannuation sector eroding savings. Today the Productivity Commission has released its plan to reverse the outdated structure that has led to poor performing funds, multiple accounts and zombie insurance policies. Fixing these problems…
Read More Advocates call for changes to superannuation sector
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The Essential Services Commission determines the maximum surcharge that can be collected when someone pays for a taxi using any method other than cash. The ESC is now reviewing this surcharge. Non-cash payment transactions include those made by credit card, charge card, and debit card. Cabcharge cards and dockets are also considered non-cash payment methods.…
Read More Victorian regulator consults on maximum taxi surcharges
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The Queensland Consumers Association says a major UK report on “loyalty penalties” (charging existing customers more than new ones) just released is very relevant to Australian consumers and the nation’s consumer protection and empowerment policies and practices. Association spokesperson, Ian Jarratt, says “loyalty penalties” are also a major problem for Australian consumers and this UK…
Read More Australia can learn from UK report on “loyalty penalties”
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Gift cards are a very convenient and popular present to buy at this time of year, however the Queensland Consumers Association advises buyers to choose ones that are likely to be useful to the receiver and with fair terms and conditions. Association spokesperson, Ian Jarratt, says many people think that gift cards are like cash,…
Read More Choose Gift Cards Carefully
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Energy Consumers Australia has released new data that underlines the important opportunity for improving housing quality as a way to tackle high energy bills. Many Australian homes are expensive to heat or to cool because they are poorly insulated, a problem which is often worse for renters. Not only does this make energy unaffordable for…
Read More Only 1 in 4 say their homes are energy efficient
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Today ASIC has released Report 604 Credit card lending in Australia – An update (REP 604), which sets out the changes being made by lenders to help consumers with credit card debt. In July 2018, ASIC released Report 580 Credit card lending in Australia (REP 580), which found more than one in six consumers is struggling with credit card debt. The…
Read More Lenders commit to improve credit card practices following ASIC review
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Thirty-one telcos face enforcement action for not having appropriately documented complaints-handling processes in place following investigations by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The ACMA investigated 41 telcos to assess their compliance with new requirements, in place since 1 July 2018, to have a documented complaints-handling process available for their customers. Following the investigations: only…
Read More Telcos directed to comply with complaints-handling rules
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The Australian Energy Regulator’s decision on the rate of return monopoly network businesses can earn will help create breathing space for consumers struggling with energy affordability. The CEO of Energy Consumers Australia Rosemary Sinclair said that the decision was important because the rate of return on capital accounts for around half the revenue network business…
Read More Regulator’s decision on network earnings creates breathing space for consumers
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Jetstar, Tigerair, Qantas and Virgin Australia have committed to ensuring their refund policies and practices comply with their consumer guarantee obligations under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The ACCC was concerned that each airline had made false or misleading representations on their websites that misled consumers about their rights to refunds and resupply in the…
Read More Jetstar, Tigerair, Qantas and Virgin Australia to fix refund policies
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The Queensland Consumers Association (QCA) has welcomed the federal government’s decision to not allow gift card issuers to charge customers for disputing gift card transactions. Draft regulations released for comment in October allowed such charges but they are not in the final registered Regulations, which will apply to gift cards supplied on or after 1…
Read More Gift card win for consumers